Method and a device for providing a graphical user interface in a vehicle

ABSTRACT

In a method for supplying a graphical user interface in a vehicle, at least one object for representing a first subset of total information is graphically displayed on a display area in at least one first display mode. An operating intention of a user is detected. In addition, a relative position of the user with respect to the display area is ascertained. When the operating intention of the user has been detected, the object is transferred into a second display mode, in which the object is displayed perspectively or three-dimensionally pivoted about an axis at a pivoting angle in the direction of the relative position. In addition, a device is adapted for providing a graphical user interface.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and a device for providing agraphical user interface in a vehicle.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The increase in electronic devices in the vehicle has made it necessaryto display larger quantities of information inside the vehicle. Modernvehicles, for example, are equipped with a plurality of driverassistance systems, for which information must be displayed in thevehicle. In addition, vehicles frequently include a navigation system.Such a navigation system is able to display digital geographic road mapstogether with a route and possibly a wide variety of supplementaryinformation. Finally, modern vehicles often come equipped withcommunication and multimedia applications, including a mobile telephoneinterface and devices for music and voice playback. Information forthese applications must likewise be displayable inside the vehicle.

Multi-function operating systems are therefore used in vehicles, whichencompass one or more multi-function display(s) as well as operatingelements, by which the many different devices installed in the vehiclecan be operated. The information reproduced on the multifunction displayassists in or controls the operation. In addition, the operating systemcan be used for selecting which particular information is to bedisplayed on the multifunction display.

German Published Patent Application No. 10 2008 050 803 describes amethod for the display of information in a vehicle, in which a subset ofthe total quantity of the overall information is able to be controlledvia image scrolling.

European Published Patent Application No. 2 246 214 describes a methodfor the display of information sorted in the form of lists. Selectedlist entries can be shown in the foreground, while list entries notselected are displayed in the background.

In a vehicle, information is often displayed by displaying a subset ofthe total information on the display area inside the vehicle, the userbeing able to change the subset. The total information may be a listthat contains a multitude of list entries, for example. A subset of thelist entries of the complete list is displayed. With the aid of anoperating action, the user is able to induce image scrolling in order tohave other list entries displayed. In the operating action, the user mayexecute an operating motion of a certain length, for instance. The usermay also operate an operating element for a certain operating period,for instance. The extent, or the measure, of the change in the displayedinformation, in this instance, the number of positions by which thedisplayed list entries change, is a function of the duration of theoperating motion or the operating length.

If multiple users are seated inside the vehicle, they gaze at thedisplay area from different positions. This is problematic insofar as adisplay of the information in an operation that may be optimal for thepassenger, for instance, is not always optimal for the driver.

SUMMARY

Example embodiments of the present invention provide a method and adevice by which a subset of a total information quantity can bedisplayed for each vehicle passenger individually, in an intuitive andrapid manner.

In the method according to an example embodiment of the presentinvention, at least one object for the representation of a first subsetof a total information quantity is graphically displayed on a displayarea in at least one first display mode. The operating intention of auser is detected as well, and the relative position of the user inrelation to the display area is ascertained. Once the operatingintention has been detected, the object is transferred into a seconddisplay mode, in which the object is shown in a perspective orthree-dimensional view, pivoted about an axis at a pivoting angle in thedirection of the relative position.

For example, the object may be a two-dimensional object, which is shownin a plan view in the first display mode. In this case the object maycompletely fill the display or a sub-region of the display. In thetransition from the first display mode to the second display mode, theobject, for instance, is pivoted perspectively, so that it may happenthat the area taken up by the object on the display actually becomessmaller, but the parts of the object that are perspectively shown in therear are reduced in their absolute size on the display, so that, as awhole, a larger subset of the total information is displayed in a mannerthat the viewer can comprehend very quickly and intuitively. Because,similar to a real object such as a map of the size of the display, theperspective representation makes it possible to view a larger mapthrough a cut-away the size of the display when it is pivoted about anaxis toward the back. It is therefore also possible to accommodate alarger subset of the total information on this larger map, which is ableto be viewed through the cut-away of the display.

The three-dimensional pivoting of the object can be displayedautostereoscopically. In contrast to the perspective representation, oneeye of the viewer in this case sees a slightly different image than theother eye, so that a real three-dimensional display is achieved. Anautostereoscopic display requires no special devices such as glasses orthe like to produce the three-dimensional effect when looking at thedisplay.

The maximum pivoting angle in particular lies within a range of 35° to55°, because if the maximum pivoting angle becomes too large, then theprojection of an object displayed perspectively or three-dimensionallyonto the display area will be too small to allow the displayed subset ofthe total information to still be discernible.

It may be provided that a viewing angle under which the user gazes atthe display area from the relative position is ascertained. The viewingangle is subdivided into a horizontal and a vertical component. Thehorizontal component includes an angle component of the viewing angle bywhich the gaze direction of the user deviates to the left and right froma vertical plane that is situated in the vehicle longitudinal direction;and the vertical component includes an angle component of the viewingangle by which the gaze direction of the user deviates in the upward anddownward direction from a plane that is situated horizontally in thevehicle longitudinal direction. The pivoting angle of the object in thesecond display mode then is a function of the horizontal and/or verticalcomponent of the viewing angle. This advantageously makes it possible topivot the object in the direction of the user's position without havingto pivot an entire display device. The pivoting of the object as afunction of the user's viewing angle then results in an optimal view ofthe object from virtually any seating position of the user in thevehicle during the operation.

In particular, the axis about which the object is pivoted extendssubstantially horizontally or substantially vertically through theobject. The object, in particular, may also be pivoted about thehorizontal and the vertical axis. It is then advantageously possible tosimultaneously consider the horizontal and vertical component of theviewing angle in the pivoting angle. More specifically, the pivotingangle of the object can then be adjusted to the head and/or eye positionof the user.

It is ascertained, in particular, whether a first or a second user hasthe operating intention, a first relative position being ascertained forthe first user, and a second relative position for the second user. Thismakes it possible to distinguish between the driver and the passenger,in particular. In an uncomplicated manner, the object may then simply bepivoted in the direction of the driver or the passenger. The pivotingangle of the object in the direction of the first relative position inparticular may be of exactly the same size as the pivoting angle in thedirection of the second relative position.

An approach of an operating object on the part of the user in thedirection of the display area is advantageously detected as an operatingintention. The object then already transitions to the second displaymode when the user approaches the display area with an operating objectsuch as his hand.

A second subset of the total information may be displayed adjacent tothe first subset of the total information in the second display mode.The user will then already be shown which display content may bedisplayed to him next as soon as his hand approaches the display area.This allows an especially rapid and, above all, intuitive operation ofthe graphical user interface.

In the second display mode, in particular, a second subset of the totalinformation abuts the first subset of the total informationperspectively or three-dimensionally in the front and/or in the back. Inthis manner the first subset of the total information is arranged withinthe total quantity of the total information.

The total information is represented in the form of graphical objects,in particular, and each item of information of the total information isassigned one graphical object. In the first display mode, fewergraphical objects are shown than in the second display mode. Thetransition from the first display mode to the second display mode thusprovides the user with a comprehensive preview of further graphicalobjects. In this case, the change in the displayed subset of the totalinformation corresponds to image scrolling or to scrolling through thegraphical objects. For the operating process of scrolling through thegraphical objects, the graphical objects are thus displayed on theperspectively or three-dimensionally pivoted object on which a largernumber of graphical objects is displayed. This allows the user to scrollthrough the total quantity of the total information more rapidly.

In addition, the first subset of the total information is shown inhighlighted form in comparison with the second subset of the totalinformation in the second display mode. The first subset of the totalinformation, in particular, may be shown in color while the secondsubset of the total information will be displayed in gray.

In the second display mode, the first subset of the total informationmay be shown in a region on the display area that is delimited by afirst boundary and a second boundary, the first subset of the totalinformation being shown in highlighted form in comparison with thesecond subset of the total information. The position of the first subsetof the total information and the second subset of the total informationis shifted on the display area through an operating action of the user;a first portion of the first subset is shifted out of the region while asecond portion of the second subset is shifted into the region, so thatthe first portion will no longer be displayed in highlighted form andthe second portion is shown in highlighted form. The operating action,in particular, may be a gesture of the user, such as a wiping gesture.The user is able to use the gesture to define the direction in which thetotal information will be shifted. The operating action of the userproduces image scrolling, in particular.

Shown in the area, in particular, is the information that is displayedon the display area at the end of the operating action in the firstdisplay mode and which thus forms a new first subset of the totalinformation. The user can thereby already see in the second display modewhich information will be displayed to him in the first display mode.

A bar having a marker is preferably displayed. The bar represents thequantity of the total information, and the position of the marker on thebar is shifted as a function of the operating action, the position ofthe marker on the bar representing the position of the subset of thetotal information within the quantity of the total information. Morespecifically, the bar with the marker constitutes what is referred to asa scroll bar. A length of the marker, in particular, indicates the sizeof the quantity of the total information. The shorter the marker, thegreater the total quantity.

Example embodiments of the present invention relate to a device forproviding a graphical user interface. The device includes a display areafor the graphical display of at least one object for the representationof a first subset of total information. In addition, the device includesa detection device, by which an operating intention of a user isdetectable, and an ascertainment unit, by which a relative position ofthe user in relation to the display area is ascertainable. The devicefinally includes a control unit, with the aid of which graphical datacan be generated that represent the object in a first display mode, andby which the object can be transferred into a second display mode. Inthe second display mode, the object is displayable pivoted about an axisat a pivoting angle in the direction of the relative position when theoperating intention has been detected. The device, in particular, issuitable for executing the method described herein and therefore offersall of the advantages of the method.

The device, in particular, may carry out the afore-described methodsteps either partially or completely.

The detection device may include a proximity detection device, by whichan approach of an operating object toward the display area can bedetected. The operating intention can then already be detected when theoperating object enters a detection space formed in front of the displayarea, for example.

In particular, the detection device may be used for detecting a viewingangle under which the user gazes at the display area from the directionof the relative position. The detection device, in particular, maysubdivide the viewing angle into a horizontal and a vertical component,which advantageously makes it possible to generate a very individualizeddisplay for the object on the display area.

In addition, the ascertainment unit may be used for detecting whether afirst or a second user has the operating intention, a first relativeposition being allocated to the first user, and a second relativeposition to the second user.

The detection device moreover may include a touch-sensitive surfacewhich is situated on the display area. Further operating actions aretherefore able to be executed by touching the display area. The displayarea then provides a touch-sensitive screen.

In addition, example embodiments of the present invention provide avehicle that includes the device described herein.

In the following text, example embodiments of the present invention willbe explained with reference to the drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a device according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 schematically shows a view from above into the vehicle interior.

FIG. 3 shows a placement of the device inside a vehicle.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show displays as they are generated by a first exemplaryembodiment of the method.

FIG. 6 shows a flow chart for a first exemplary embodiment of themethod.

FIG. 7 shows a further display as it is able to be generated by thefirst exemplary embodiment of the method.

FIG. 8 shows a display as it is generated by a second exemplaryembodiment of the method on the display area.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A device 1 according to an example embodiment of the present inventionand a placement of device 1 in a vehicle 2 will be explained withreference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

Device 1 is used for providing a user interface in a vehicle 2. Itincludes a display device 3 having a display area 4. Display area 4 maybe made available by a display of any type. Display device 3 isconnected to a control unit 5, which generates graphical data that arevisibly reproduced for the vehicle passengers via display area 4 in theinterior of vehicle 2. Operating objects and display objects, inparticular, are able to be shown for the user interface. These operatingand display objects assist user N1 in controlling devices of thevehicle. The display objects provide information in addition.

Furthermore, a proximity detection device 6 is provided, by which anapproach of an operating object 7, such as a hand of a user N1, towarddisplay area 4 is able to be detected in a detection space 8. Detectionspace 8 is situated in front of display area 4. Proximity detectiondevice 6 is part of an input device for the user interface. User N1 mayexecute gestures in detection space 8 in order to control the display ondisplay area 4.

Proximity detection device 6, for example, may include infrared-lightsources and infrared-light detectors. As an alternative, proximitydetection device 6 may be equipped with an optical system including acamera, which records the gesture executed in detection space 8. Inaddition, the optical system could encompass a light-emitting diode,which, for instance, emits rectangular wave, amplitude-modulated light.This light is reflected at the hand of user N1 executing the gesture indetection space 8 and reaches a photodiode of proximity detection device6 after being reflected. An additional light-emitting diode emitsrectangular wave, amplitude-modulated light to the photodiode as well,which is phase-shifted by 180°, however. The two light signals superposeat the photodiode and cancel each other out if they have exactly thesame amplitude. In the event that the signals do not cancel each otherout at the photodiode, a control loop regulates the light emission ofthe second diode such that the total received signal adds up to zeroagain. If there is a change in position of the hand of user N1 indetection space 8, the light component that arrives at the photodiodefrom the first light-emitting diode via the reflection at the hand willchange as well. This induces the control loop to adapt the intensity ofthe second light-emitting diode, which therefore means that the controlsignal is a measure of the reflection of the light emitted by the firstdiode at the hand of user N1 executing the gesture. A signal that ischaracteristic of the position of the hand of user N1 can thereby bederived from the control circuit.

In addition, device 1 includes an ascertainment device 9, which candetect whether the operating intention in detection space 8 is executedby a first user N1 or a second user N2. First user N1 is the driver ofvehicle 2, in particular, and second user N2, in particular, is thepassenger. Moreover, ascertainment device 9 is able to determine a firstrelative position P1 of first user N1 with regard to display area 4, anda second relative position P2 of second user N2 with regard to displayarea 4.

The ascertainment of the relative position of a user with regard todisplay area 4 will be explained by way of example using relativeposition P1 of first user N1; however, relative position P2 of seconduser N2 is ascertained in an analogous manner.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, an electrode array 10 is located in seat 11 offirst user N1. This electrode device 10 may be used for capacitivelycoupling an identification code into the body of first user N1. Theidentification code is able to identify relative position P1 of firstuser N1 with regard to display area 4, the seating position of firstuser N1, and also first user N1 himself. The identification code istransmitted via the body of first user N1 and capacitively decoupled atthe fingertip of first user N1, so that it can be transmitted to areceiving device accommodated in display device 3.

The receiving device is connected to a control unit 5, which in turn iscapacitively coupled to electrode device 10. An electric field having avery limited range of several centimeters or decimeters, for example, isused in the capacitive couplings between electrode device 10 and firstuser N1, for one, and first user N1 and the receiving device in displaydevice 3, for another. The range of this field substantially correspondsto the size of detection space 8. Relatively low carrier frequencies ofseveral 100 kHz, which lead to quasi-static fields, are employed for thesignal transmission, i.e. fields for which the physical principles thatapply to static fields are true for the most part. As far as furtherdetails of this signal transmission are concerned, reference is made toGerman Published Patent Application No. 10 2004 048 956 and theadditional literature cited therein, which is hereby incorporated intothe present application by reference. The circuit devices used in GermanPublished Patent Application No. 10 2004 048 956, in particular, may beused.

The manner in which a viewing angle of first N1 and/or of second user N2in relation to display area 4 is able to be ascertained will beexplained with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

Once again, this will be done by way of example for first user N1, buttakes place in a similar manner for user N2.

When an operating intention exists, the head and/or eye position offirst user N1 is detected to begin with and then compared to a referenceimage. The reference image may be an image of first user N1 himself, inwhich case the image then includes the head and/or eye position of firstuser N1 when gazing at the road. This makes it possible to determine howthe head and/or eye position of first user N1 changes when the usergazes at display area 4. As an alternative, the reference image may alsobe a pattern image.

A deviation to the left or right of the head and/or eye position offirst user N1 from a vertical plane 12 extending in parallel withvehicle longitudinal direction B will then be ascertained. Verticalplane 12 intersects center point 14 between the eyes of first user N1,in particular. In this case, the head and/or eye position describesespecially the rotation of the head about an axis that lies in plane 12.

A vertical component γ is ascertained via an upward or downwarddeviation of the head and/or eye position of first user N1 from ahorizontal plane 13 which is situated at a right angle to vertical plane12. Horizontal plane 13, in particular, intersects the eyes of firstuser N1. In this case, the head and/or eye position describes therotation of the head about an axis that lies in plane 13, in particular.

The method according to an example embodiment of the present inventionwill be described with reference to FIGS. 4 through 6.

FIG. 4 shows a display on the display area before the start of themethod, on which an object 15 is displayed in a first display mode.

Object 15 initially includes a first subset of total information, whichis displayed in multiple graphical objects 15.1 through 15.6. Thevarious graphical objects 15.1 through 15.6 may include information fromdifferent categories. For example, graphical object 15.1 includesnavigation information, whereas no displayable information has currentlybeen assigned to graphical object 15.2. Like graphical object 15.6 andgraphical object 15.5, graphical object 15.3 includes informationrelated to the weather or climate. Graphical object 15.4 displays themusic album that is currently playing.

In step 21 of method 20, an operating intention on the part of firstuser N1 is detected, i.e. the driver. First user N1 has moved anoperating object 7, such as his hand 7, into detection space 8 for thispurpose.

In step 22, horizontal component α of the viewing angle of first user N1with regard to display area 4 is ascertained.

In step 23, display area 4 is controlled such that object 15 istransferred into a second display mode. Object 15 is shown pivoted at apivoting angle δ about an axis 16, which extends vertically throughobject 15 and is situated in the center of object 15, for instance. Interms of its value, pivoting angle δ corresponds to the value ofhorizontal component α of the viewing angle of first user N1 and amountsto 10°, for example. Pivoting angle δ should not exceed a value of 55°because a projection of the perspectively displayed object 15 ontodisplay area 4 may otherwise become too small.

In particular, it is also possible to consider vertical component γ ofthe viewing angle in pivoting angle δ. Object 15 would then be pivotednot only about vertical axis 16, but about a horizontal axis as well.

Graphical objects 15.1 through 15.6, in particular, are also pivotedabout axis 16 at pivoting angle δ. In this manner, the total informationincluded in graphical objects 15.1 through 15.6 is retained in object 15as a whole.

Following step 23, the object is therefore shown perspectively, and thesize of object 15 decreases from the right front to the left rear. Thiscan be understood when looking at the side lengths of object 15, inparticular. The first subset of the total information displayed ingraphical objects 15.1 through 15.6 also decreases in size from theright front to the left rear. The size characteristic, i.e. the measureof the decrease, of object 15 and the first subset of total information15.1 through 15.6 is a function of the size of pivoting angle δ, inparticular. The greater the pivoting angle δ, the more extreme the sizedifference of object 15 between the right front and the left rear willbecome.

Moreover, further graphical objects 15.7 through 15.10, which belong toa second subset of the total information, are shown perspectivelyabutting graphical objects 15.6 and 15.1 in the rear and abuttinggraphical objects 15.4 and 15.3 of the first subset of the totalinformation in the front. They adjoin graphical objects 15.1 through15.6 without a gap. This means that the two graphical objects 15.7 and15.8 with the information displayed therein, are objects 15.1 through15.10 that are displayed in the largest size, whereas graphical objects15.9 and 15.10 are graphical objects 15.1 through 15.10 that aredisplayed in the smallest size.

Furthermore, graphical objects 15.1 through 15.6 of the first subset areshown within two boundary lines 17 and 18. These boundary lines 17 and18 delimit a region 19 on display area 4 in the second display mode ofobject 15. Any information appearing in this region and the informationentering it is shown in highlighted form. For example, the first subsetof the total information, i.e. graphical objects 15.1 through 15.6, maybe displayed in color, while the second subset of the total information,i.e. graphical objects 15.7 through 15.10, will be shown in gray.

In other words, following step 23, object 15 displays a larger quantityof total information, which will indicate to first user N1 the totalinformation that may be displayed to him through further operatingactions.

First user N1 executes a wiping gesture directed to the left in front ofdisplay area 4 in detection space 8. This results in image scrolling, inwhich graphical objects are displayed in sequence, to the effect thatgraphical objects including information will disappear from display area4 one after the other, and other graphical objects will be displayed ondisplay area 4. That is to say, if first user N1 executes a wipinggesture to the left, graphical objects 15.9 and 15.10 on the left woulddisappear from display area 4 first, graphical objects 15.1 and 15.6would leave region 19 at least partially toward the left, graphicalobjects 15.7 and 15.8 on the right would at least partially enter region19, and graphical objects on the right adjacent to graphical objects15.7 and 15.8 would at least partially be displayed on display area 4.

In step 24, the gesture is detected by proximity detection device 6 andis converted into a control signal, which actuates display area 4 suchthat all graphical objects 15.1 through 15.10 displayed in object 15 areshifted to the left rear.

In so doing, the graphical objects enter region 19 as a function of theextent of shift 15.7 and 15.8. Upon entering region 19, graphicalobjects 15.7 and 15.8 shown in gray will be displayed in color to theextent that they have entered region 19.

On the side of boundary line 17, graphical objects 15.6 and 15.1simultaneously leave region 19. They will then be shown in gray to theextent that they leave region 19, once again as a function of themagnitude of the shift.

When the operating action, i.e. the wiping gesture, has ended, which isdetected when operating object 7, i.e. the hand of first user N1, leavesdetection space 8, object 15 changes back to the first display mode.Graphical objects 15.2 through 15.5, 15.7 and 15.8, which are locatedwithin region 19 in the second display mode, are now displayed as thefirst subset of the total information.

In step 23, it is additionally possible to display a bar 31 underneathobject 15, which is shown in FIG. 7. Bar 31 represents the quantity ofthe total information. In addition, bar 31 has a marker 30, and theposition of marker 30 on bar 31 informs first user N1 of the manner inwhich the first subset of the total information can be arranged withinthe quantity of the total information. This gives user N1 an indicationof the quantity of the total information that is still available to him.The length of marker 30, in particular, is decisive for the amount ofthe quantity of the total information, because the shorter marker 30,the larger the quantity of the total information.

If a wiping gesture is executed, marker 30 on bar 31 is shifted in thedirection in which the wiping gesture was executed.

A further exemplary embodiment of the method will be discussed in thefollowing text with reference to FIGS. 4 and 8.

Once again, the display shown in FIG. 4 forms the starting point of themethod.

Second user N2 moves operating object 7, i.e. his hand, into detectionspace 8, which is detected by proximity detection device 6. Viaelectrode array 10 and ascertainment unit 6, it is determined, inparticular, that the user having the operating intention is second userN2, to whom relative position P2 has been allocated. Relative positionP2 is thus determined via the identification of the user having theoperating intention, i.e. user N2.

The display area is controlled such that object 15 is pivoted in thedirection of relative position P2, i.e. in the direction of thepassenger.

Pivoting angle δ can be set in advance, so that only the direction inwhich object 15 will be pivoted is determined via relative positions P1and P2. Object 15 would then be pivoted in the direction of firstrelative position P1 at the same pivoting angle δ as in the direction ofrelative position P2.

In the second exemplary embodiment of the method, an active distinctionis made between driver and passenger, while in the first exemplaryembodiment, a position or a viewing angle of the user having theoperating intention is determined.

Both methods are also easily combinable with one another. For example,it is possible to ascertain relative positions P1 and P2 via bothmethods simultaneously. For instance, only pivoting of object 15 aboutan axis extending horizontally through the object as a function ofhorizontal component γ may then be dependent, while the pivoting angleabout axis 16 extending vertically through object 16 is ascertained viaa preset value.

If display area 4 includes a touch-sensitive surface, then operatingactions may also be executed directly on the surface of display area 4.

In particular, object 15 may also be displayed in a three-dimensionalview instead of a perspective view for both alternatives of the method.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

-   1 device-   2 vehicle-   3 display device-   4 display area-   5 control unit-   6 detection device; proximity detection device-   7 operating object-   8 detection space-   9 ascertainment unit-   10 electrode array-   11 vehicle seat-   12 vertical plane-   13 horizontal plane-   14 center point between the eyes of a user object-   15.1-15.6 graphical objects; first subset of the total information-   15.7-15.10 graphical objects; second subset of the total information-   16 axis-   17, 18 boundaries-   19 region-   20 method-   21-24 method steps-   30 marker-   31 bar-   N1, N2 first user, second user-   α, β horizontal component of a viewing angle-   γ vertical component of a viewing angle-   δ pivoting angle-   B vehicle longitudinal direction

1-15. (canceled)
 16. A method for providing a graphical user interfacein a vehicle, comprising: graphically displaying, on a display area inat least one first display mode, at least one object for representing afirst subset of total information; detecting an operating intention of auser; ascertaining a relative position of the user with respect to thedisplay area; and, in response to detecting the operating intention ofthe user, transferring the object into a second display mode, in whichthe object is displayed perspectively or three-dimensionally pivotedabout an axis at a pivoting angle in a direction of the relativeposition.
 17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:ascertaining a viewing angle, under which the user gazes at the displayarea from the relative position; and subdividing the viewing angle intoa horizontal component and a vertical component, the horizontalcomponent including an angle component of the viewing angle by which agaze direction of the user laterally deviates from a vertical planesituated in a vehicle longitudinal direction, the vertical componentincluding an angle component of the viewing angle by which the gazedirection of the user deviates in a downward direction from a planesituated horizontally in the vehicle longitudinal direction; wherein thepivoting angle of the object in the second display mode is a function ofthe horizontal and/or the vertical component of the viewing angle. 18.The method according to claim 16, wherein the axis about which theobject is pivoted extends substantially horizontally or substantiallyvertically through the object.
 19. The method according to claim 16,further comprising: ascertaining whether a first or a second user hasthe operating intention; and determining a first relative position forthe first user and a second relative position for the second user. 20.The method according to claim 16, further comprising detecting, as anoperating intention, an approach of the display area by an operatingobject by the user.
 21. The method according to claim 16, wherein in thesecond display mode, a second subset of the total information is shownadjacent to the first subset of the total information in the object. 22.The method according to claim 21, wherein in the second display mode,the first subset of the total information is shown in highlighted formin comparison with the second subset of the total information.
 23. Themethod according to claim 21, wherein in the second display mode, thesecond subset of the total information abuts the first subset of thetotal information perspectively or three-dimensionally in the frontand/or in the back.
 24. The method according to claim 21, wherein in thesecond display mode, the first subset of the total information isdisplayed on the display area in a region that is delimited by a firstboundary and a second boundary, and the first subset of the totalinformation is shown in highlighted form in comparison with the secondsubset of the total information; and wherein the first subset of thetotal information and the second subset of the total information areshifted in their positions on the display area by an operating action ofthe user, a first portion of the first subset of the total informationbeing shifted out of the region, while a second portion of the secondsubset of the total information is shifted into the region, so that thefirst portion is no longer shown in highlighted form and the secondportion is displayed in highlighted form.
 25. The method according toclaim 16, wherein a bar having a marker is displayed, the barrepresenting a total quantity of the total information, and a positionof the marker on the bar being shifted as a function of the operatingaction, the position of the marker on the bar representing the positionof the first subset of the total information within the total quantityof the total information.
 26. A device for providing a graphical userinterface in a vehicle, comprising: a display area adapted tographically display at least one object for representation of a firstsubset of total information; a detection device adapted to detect anoperating intention of a user; an ascertainment unit adapted toascertain a relative position of the user with respect to the displayarea; and a control unit adapted to generate graphical data thatrepresent the object in a first display mode, and by which the objectcan be transferred into a second display mode, in which the object isdisplayable pivoted about an axis at a pivoting angle in a direction ofthe relative position in response to detection of the operatingintention.
 27. The device according to claim 26, wherein the detectiondevice includes a proximity detection device adapted to detect anapproach by an operating object toward the display area.
 28. The deviceaccording to claim 26, wherein the detection device is adapted toascertain a viewing angle, under which the user gazes at the displayarea from the relative position.
 29. The device according to claim 26,wherein the ascertainment unit is adapted to ascertain whether a firstuser or a second user has the operating intention, the first user beingassigned a first relative position and the second user being assigned asecond relative position.
 30. A vehicle, comprising the device recitedin claim 26.